The story began with the invention of Christopher McCandless’ body by a collective of Alaskan poachers on a family vacation to Denali National Park and Preserve. McCandless needs to drive to Lake Mead in Nevada shortly after graduating from university, in which a field with water drenches the Datsun’s motor. An amazing and fascinating thing about the book is that it is not written in chronological order.
It starts off with Chris’s death, and then it goes back and forth from different periods in Chris’s journey across the country. I think that the author of this book does this in order to reveal a mixture of events to the readers of the book in his own way (Krakauer, 2021). This is because he generally starts off revealing information in little bits. In a way that makes brilliant intellectual allowing an individual get captivated to going deeper and deeper into reading the book. I have read through the “Into the Wild”, and noticed something about the author’s style of writing. Since Krakauer is a news reporter and his novel is predicated on an essay he wrote for Outdoor Journal, much of Krakauer’s style can be described as “journalistic,” in that he decided to seek out someone who understood Chris, asked to interview them, and told their stories in 3rd person storytelling.
Another thing about this book “Into the Wild” that makes it captivating to the reader is that there are maps that are at the beginning of the chapters. At most times the maps show the reader the places that the author was talking about in his journal. In addition to that, there are also some pieces of information that Krakaeur has put at the beginning of each of his chapters. Sometimes these phrases are highlights of Chris, and other times they are passages that relate to his lifestyle, and inform the reader about what is going to happen in the next chapter.
Another aspect that makes the book more interesting is that the writer has referenced many books, and he highlights very interesting issues on the mentioned books, mostly great things in between the margins. The action on the rise in the novel is the choice of Christopher McCandles to decide leaving the countryside. The climax of the narration comes out when Christopher McCandles attempts a final crossing of the Teklanika River so as to leave Alaska, but his efforts are thwarted by warmer months of flood occasions.
Chris takes a risk by selling all of his belongings, burning his cash, taking his vehicle and a few necessities for survival, and venturing into the desert woefully underprepared. For example, he once stated that he was often dissatisfied with life since most individuals live it, and hence desired to dwell more profoundly and lavishly (Krakauer, 1997). He does not do this just because he is ignorant but he just wants to be unprepared. Chris is directed by the prospect of a challenge, and that is the reason behind him taking that risk.
I as a writer would not prefer using creative risks in my writing due to diverse opinions from my readers and audience as well. The usage of creative risks as well may lead to biasness. The climax can be described as the difference at which Alex chooses to stay and just not come back to the main road in search of redemption and culture. This is the moment in time during which he, in his tiredness and just need, chooses to live off the territory he is unaware with while trapped in the jungle in his vehicle. As a writer, I see value in including these events which lead to the climax of the book because they help in making the narration of the story more interesting. Thus, I would prefer the use of more events to make the story captivating. Usage of all events would make it monotonous; hence the narration becomes boring to the reader.
Reference
Krakauer, J. (1997). Into the Wild. Anchor Books.